FATHER and son team Les and Ewan Rockemer, Gigoomgan, Brooweena, exhibited the champion pen at the annual Burnett steer sale in Biggenden.
The Rockemers offered a pen of well grown 18 month old Kilkenny blood Charolais/Brahman-cross steers, selected by judge, Kenilworth-based, commission buyer John Ferriday. For their efforts, the Rockemer, were awarded a Leicht's CIA Immobilizer Pro-Chute cattle crush.
The 403kg steers sold for 419.2c/kg live to return $1691.
Thursday's win makes back to back success for the Rockemers, who also exhibited the champion pen of weaners last May with a draft of Brangus heifers. On that day they collected a Leicht's CIA calf cradle.
The champion Santas were yarded by Dingle Cattle Company, Mundubbera. A Templeton and Son had the top Brahman exhibit. Brothers Robert and Kevin Preston, Eidsvold, had the Simmentals. Maclennan Cattle Company came up trumps in the Angus category. David and Colleen Smith, Vale View, Manumbar, yarded the winning Droughtmasters. each of the breed winners were awarded a prize pack including an Engel fridge.
While much of Burnett region has had falls of up to 300mm, other parts have only recorded 40-50mm. This resulted in a numbers of producers taking advantage of the red hot market selling their cattle a couple of months earlier than usual.
Ted Habermann, Eastern Creek, Mount Perry, said he had been forced to lighten off because there had been insufficient rain to fill dams. Prior to sale he was hoping his 100 Brahman-cross steers would make about 330c/kg live. To his delight the draft weighing about 350kg averaged 380c.